1
καὶ προσελθοῦσαι αἱ θυγατέρες Σαλπααδ υἱοῦ Οφερ υἱοῦ Γαλααδ υἱοῦ Μαχιρ τοῦ δήμου Μανασση τῶν υἱῶν Ιωσηφ καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν Μαλα καὶ Νουα καὶ Εγλα καὶ Μελχα καὶ Θερσα
And the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, of the clan of Manasseh, of the sons of Joseph, drew near — and these are their names: Mahlah and Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah —
The chapter opens with a participial construction (προσελθοῦσαι … στᾶσαι, vv. 1–2) that suspends the main verb λέγουσιν until the end of v. 2, building a long approach-formula. The genealogy traces the daughters back five generations to Joseph, anchoring their claim within the tribal land-allotment of Manasseh; the parenthetical naming of all five sisters (Hebraizing καὶ … καὶ) gives the case its individuated, legally documented character.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσελθοῦσαιhaving drawn nearAor Act Part Nom Pl Fem · προσέρχομαιcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance, agreeing with θυγατέρες)→ antecedent aorist participle (act prior to the main verb λέγουσιν of v. 2)προσέρχομαι: 'come to / approach / draw near'; renders קָרַב; in the LXX the verb frequently carries a quasi-judicial or cultic sense of approaching an authority or a sanctuary to present a matter; here the feminine plural participle marks the daughters' formal initiative in bringing a legal petition.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject (of λέγουσιν, v. 2)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ (pl. θυγατέρες): 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the daughters, not sons, are the grammatical and legal subject of the whole pericope — an unusual prominence in patriarchal inheritance law that the chapter exists precisely to address.
Σαλπααδof Zelophehadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun: 'daughters of Zelophehad')→ participant identificationΣαλπααδ: transliteration of Hebrew צְלָפְחָד (Zelophehad); indeclinable in the LXX; the father whose lack of a male heir generates the legal crux; his name recurs as the case-marker throughout Num 26:33; 27; 36; Josh 17:3.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (genealogical: 'son of Hepher')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the repeated υἱοῦ … υἱοῦ … υἱοῦ builds the patrilineal genealogy that establishes the daughters' tribal standing within Manasseh and hence their territorial claim.
Οφερof Hephergenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΟφερ: transliteration of Hebrew חֵפֶר (Hepher); indeclinable; grandfather of the daughters and head of the Hepherite clan (cf. Num 26:32–33).
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (genealogical: 'son of Gilead')→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive in apposition (genealogical: 'son of Gilead').
Γαλααδof Gileadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד (Gilead); indeclinable; the clan-name also designates the Transjordanian territory associated with Machir's descendants.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (genealogical: 'son of Machir')→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive in apposition (genealogical: 'son of Machir').
Μαχιρof Machirgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΜαχιρ: transliteration of Hebrew מָכִיר (Machir); indeclinable; the firstborn of Manasseh and progenitor of the Machirite clan.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δήμουclan / peopleGenitivegenitive of relationship ('of the clan of Manasseh')→ relational specificationδῆμος: 'people / clan / community'; in the LXX of Numbers δῆμος regularly renders מִשְׁפָּחָה ('family / clan'), the sub-tribal kinship unit that is the basic land-holding entity; the daughters' claim is anchored to this δῆμος of Manasseh.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΜανασση: transliteration of Hebrew מְנַשֶּׁה (Manasseh); indeclinable; the tribe whose territorial inheritance is at stake in the daughters' suit.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of relationship ('of the sons of Joseph')→ relational specificationυἱός (pl. υἱῶν): the phrase τῶν υἱῶν Ιωσηφ situates Manasseh within the Joseph tribes, completing the genealogical anchoring back to a son of Jacob.
Ιωσηφof Josephgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Joseph); indeclinable; the genealogy terminates at the patriarch, securing the daughters' standing within the tribal-allotment structure of the land.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing parenthetical naming)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of implied copula: 'these [are]')→ participant referenceοὗτος: the demonstrative ταῦτα introduces the formal roll of names; the construction ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα ('these are the names') is a standard LXX census/list formula (cf. Num 1:5; 26:33).
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματαnamesNominativepredicate nominative ('these are the names')→ participant prominenceὄνομα (pl. ὀνόματα): 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the individuated naming of all five daughters gives the case its documentary, legally registered character — and ironically foregrounds the very 'name' (ὄνομα, v. 4) the daughters fear will be blotted out.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivegenitive of possession (their names)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'of them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (their names).
ΜαλαMahlahnominative in apposition to ὀνόματα (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΜαλα: transliteration of Hebrew מַחְלָה (Mahlah); indeclinable; the eldest of the five daughters of Zelophehad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΝουαNoahnominative in apposition to ὀνόματα (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝουα: transliteration of Hebrew נֹעָה (Noah, a daughter — distinct from נֹחַ, Noah of the flood); indeclinable; the second of the five sisters.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΕγλαHoglahnominative in apposition to ὀνόματα (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕγλα: transliteration of Hebrew חָגְלָה (Hoglah); indeclinable; the third of the five sisters.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΜελχαMilcahnominative in apposition to ὀνόματα (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΜελχα: transliteration of Hebrew מִלְכָּה (Milcah); indeclinable; the fourth of the five sisters.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΘερσαTirzahnominative in apposition to ὀνόματα (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΘερσα: transliteration of Hebrew תִּרְצָה (Tirzah); indeclinable; the fifth and youngest of the daughters, sharing her name with the later northern royal city.
2
καὶ στᾶσαι ἔναντι Μωυσῆ καὶ ἔναντι Ελεαζαρ τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ἔναντι τῶν ἀρχόντων καὶ ἔναντι πάσης συναγωγῆς ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου λέγουσιν
and standing before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the rulers and before all the congregation at the door of the tent of witness, they say:
The second participle στᾶσαι ('standing') completes the suspended construction of v. 1 and resolves at last into the main verb λέγουσιν. The fourfold ἔναντι (Moses, Eleazar, the rulers, all the congregation) establishes the full juridical assembly before which the petition is lodged; ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου locates the hearing at the sanctuary entrance, the proper venue for cases brought before the LORD.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στᾶσαιhaving stood / standingAor Act Part Nom Pl Fem · ἵστημιcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance, agreeing with θυγατέρες of v. 1)→ antecedent/coincident aorist participle (the posture in which they speak)ἵστημι (2nd aor. ἔστην, part. στάς/στᾶσα): intransitive 'stand / take one's stand'; renders עָמַד; 'standing before' an authority is the LXX idiom for presenting oneself for judgment or service; the daughters take their stand as legal claimants before the assembled tribunal.
ἔναντιbefore / in front ofimproper preposition + genitive (legal presence)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the fourfold repetition across this verse builds the complete juridical audience and underscores the formal, public character of the hearing.
ΜωυσῆMosesGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined in Rahlfs' LXX as a first/third-declension hybrid (gen. Μωυσῆ); here the genitive after ἔναντι; Moses heads the tribunal as covenant mediator and judge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by improper preposition + genitive.
ΕλεαζαρEleazargenitive object of ἔναντι (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר (Eleazar); indeclinable; Aaron's son and successor as high priest (cf. Num 20:25–28); his presence alongside Moses signals that the matter touches both judicial and priestly-cultic spheres.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ελεαζαρ ('Eleazar the priest')→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the title marks Eleazar's office; the same Eleazar will, at v. 21, inquire by the Urim for Joshua, framing the chapter with priestly mediation at both petition and commissioning.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by improper preposition + genitive.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχόντωνrulersGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationἄρχων (pl. ἀρχόντων): 'ruler / chief / leader'; renders נָשִׂיא; the tribal chieftains who, with Moses and Eleazar, constitute the governing council of the congregation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by improper preposition + genitive.
πάσηςallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγῆς: 'all the congregation')→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; the feminine genitive πάσης agrees with συναγωγῆς; the daughters' case is heard publicly before the entire assembly, making the precedent that follows a matter of communal, not private, record.
συναγωγῆςcongregation / assemblyGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'gathering / congregation / assembly'; the characteristic LXX rendering of עֵדָה, the covenant community gathered as a body; the term recurs as a leitmotif through the chapter (vv. 2, 3, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22).
ἐπὶat / uponpreposition + genitive (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoorGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location: 'at the door')→ relational specificationθύρα: 'door / entrance'; renders פֶּתַח; the phrase ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('at the door of the tent of witness') designates the sanctuary threshold — the appointed place for bringing matters before the LORD (cf. Lev 1:3; Num 16:19).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtentGenitivegenitive of relationship ('door of the tent')→ relational specificationσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders אֹהֶל; with τοῦ μαρτυρίου forms the fixed designation 'tent of witness/meeting' (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד), the locus of YHWH's presence and oracular communication with Moses.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουwitness / testimonyGenitivegenitive of relationship ('tent of witness')→ relational specificationμαρτύριον: 'witness / testimony'; the LXX of Numbers regularly renders מוֹעֵד ('appointed meeting') by τοῦ μαρτυρίου, perhaps assimilating מוֹעֵד to עֵדוּת ('testimony'); the result is the standard formula σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου, 'tent of witness.'
λέγουσινthey sayPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (resolving the participial construction of vv. 1–2)→ historic present (vivid introduction of direct speech)λέγω: 'say / speak'; the historic present λέγουσιν resolves the long suspended approach-formula and vividly introduces the daughters' petition; the present tense lends immediacy to the moment of their address before the assembly.
3
ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ἀπέθανεν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἦν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῆς ἐπισυστάσης ἔναντι κυρίου ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ Κορε ὅτι διὰ ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ ἀπέθανεν καὶ υἱοὶ οὐκ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ
'Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the midst of the company that gathered together against the LORD in the company of Korah; for he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.
The daughters state their case in three legal facts: (1) their father died in the wilderness; (2) he was not part of Korah's rebellion (an exculpatory clause guarding the family name from the taint of that faction's special judgment); (3) he died for his own sin (the common mortality of the wilderness generation, not a forfeiting offense) and left no sons. The careful distinction τῆς ἐπισυστάσης … ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ Κορε protects the inheritance from any claim that Zelophehad's line was justly cut off.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; 'our father' (Zelophehad) is the legal pivot of the whole case — the man whose death without a male heir creates the inheritance vacuum the daughters seek to fill.
ἡμῶνof us / ourGenitivegenitive of possession (1st person plural pronoun)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): the possessive 'our' binds the five sisters together as joint claimants of a single paternal estate.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (statement of fact)→ constative aorist (the completed fact of death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the blunt aorist ἀπέθανεν opens the legal statement with the bare fact that generates the case; it is repeated below (διὰ ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ ἀπέθανεν) to specify the manner of death.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (locative: 'in the wilderness')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; Zelophehad died 'in the wilderness' as one of the generation that perished there (Num 14:29–35), i.e. by ordinary mortality under the wilderness sentence, not by a special punitive judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing exculpatory clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun: 'he himself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: the emphatic nominative pronoun stresses Zelophehad personally — 'he' specifically was not among Korah's faction; the emphasis serves the exculpatory purpose of the clause.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἦν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (negated copula: 'he was not')→ durative imperfect (his standing/non-participation in the faction)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; the imperfect denotes his settled non-membership in Korah's rebellious assembly; the clause clears the family name of complicity in that famous judgment (Num 16).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
μέσῳmidstDativeobject of ἐν (idiomatic: 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ + genitive renders בְּתוֹךְ ('in the midst of'); here marking that Zelophehad did not belong among the rebel assembly.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcompany / congregationGenitivegenitive with μέσῳ ('in the midst of the company')→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: here 'company / band'; the same noun used for the covenant assembly is here applied to the rebel faction (τῆς ἐπισυστάσης), a pointed reuse: there is the LORD's συναγωγή and there is the συναγωγή that gathered against him.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with participle ἐπισυστάσης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπισυστάσηςthat conspired / gathered togetherAor Act Part Gen Sg Fem · ἐπισυνίστημιattributive participle (modifying συναγωγῆς)→ antecedent aorist participle (the past act of conspiring)ἐπισυνίστημι (here intrans. 2nd aor. part. ἐπισυστάς, -στᾶσα): 'band together / conspire / rise up against'; renders the Hebrew of the Korah revolt (cf. הַנּוֹעָדִים, Num 16:11; 27:3); the doubled prefix ἐπι-συν- intensifies the sense of a hostile coalition forming 'against the LORD.'
ἔναντιbefore / againstimproper preposition + genitive (hostile sense)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: here 'before / against'; with ἐπισυστάσης it expresses the faction's standing 'against the LORD' — the cultic-political rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the rebel assembly gathered ἔναντι κυρίου, i.e. against YHWH's appointed order — the very judgment from which the daughters distance their father.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcompany / congregationDativeobject of ἐν (apposition specifying the faction: 'in the company of Korah')→ sphere or referenceσυναγωγή: 'company / band'; ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ Κορε pins the identification precisely to Korah's revolt, the paradigmatic act of rebellion against Mosaic-Aaronic authority.
Κορεof Korahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: transliteration of Hebrew קֹרַח (Korah); indeclinable; leader of the Levitical revolt of Num 16 swallowed by the earth; his name is byword for rebellion (cf. Jude 11).
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (introducing reason for death)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the decisive legal point — Zelophehad died for his own (ordinary) sin, distinguishing his death from a judgment that would have disqualified his heirs.
διὰbecause of / throughpreposition + accusative (cause)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + accusative: 'because of / on account of'; διὰ ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ ('because of his own sin') frames his death as the common lot of the wilderness generation under its general sentence, not a forfeiting transgression.
ἁμαρτίανsinAccusativeobject of διά (cause of death)→ object specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin / fault'; renders חֵטְא; here the 'sin' is the generic mortality-incurring fault of the wilderness generation (Num 14), explicitly contrasted with the special rebellion of Korah.
αὐτοῦhis (own)Genitivegenitive of possession ('his own sin')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): the possessive stresses that the sin and its penalty were his own and personal, not a corporate-rebellion guilt that would taint his descendants' inheritance rights.
ἀπέθανενhe diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb of ὅτι-clause (restating the fact with its cause)→ constative aorist (completed fact, now causally qualified)ἀποθνῄσκω: the repetition of ἀπέθανεν, now with διὰ ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ, closes the legal argument: the manner of death does not bar inheritance, but the absence of sons creates the need for a ruling.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the crucial fact)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (of ἐγένοντο)→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; the plural υἱοὶ οὐκ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ ('no sons were born to him') states the legal gap at the heart of the case — with no male heir, the patrimony would, by default custom, lapse from his name.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένοντοwere born / came to beAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (negated: 'no sons were born')→ constative aorist (the settled fact of having no sons)γίνομαι (aor. mid. ἐγένοντο): 'come into being / be born'; the idiom υἱοὶ οὐκ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ ('sons did not come to be for him') renders the Hebrew construction with הָיָה + ל; this absence is the precise legal trigger for the inheritance ruling that follows.
αὐτῷto him / for himDativedative of possession ('he had no sons')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): the dative of possession completes the idiom 'no sons were [born] to him' = 'he had no sons,' the central fact the daughters now press into a plea.
4
μὴ ἐξαλειφθήτω τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν ἐκ μέσου τοῦ δήμου αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ υἱός δότε ἡμῖν κατάσχεσιν ἐν μέσῳ ἀδελφῶν πατρὸς ἡμῶν
Why should the name of our father be blotted out from the midst of his clan, because he has no son? Give us a possession in the midst of our father's brothers.'
The petition crystallizes in two speech-acts: a third-person prohibitive (μὴ ἐξαλειφθήτω, 'let not … be blotted out') voicing the threatened loss of the father's name, and a direct imperative to the tribunal (δότε ἡμῖν κατάσχεσιν, 'give us a possession'). The appeal to 'name' (ὄνομα) frames inheritance not merely as property but as the perpetuation of a man's standing within his δῆμος — the theological weight that makes the daughters' claim compelling.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
μὴnotnegative particle (prohibitive, with aorist subjunctive/imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of will/wish; with the aorist passive imperative ἐξαλειφθήτω it forms a prohibitive ('let not … be blotted out'), expressing the daughters' urgent appeal.
ἐξαλειφθήτωlet be blotted outAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · ἐξαλείφωmain verb (third-person prohibitive imperative)→ prohibitive aorist imperative (deprecated outcome)ἐξαλείφω: 'wipe out / blot out / erase'; renders מָחָה / גָּרַע; the passive 'let not the name be blotted out' evokes the erasure of a man from the genealogical and territorial record (cf. Deut 25:6; Ruth 4:5–10); to lose the land-portion is to lose the name itself.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject (of the passive ἐξαλειφθήτω)→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; in OT thought a man's 'name' continues through his inherited land-portion and posterity; the daughters' plea is that their father's name persist in Israel through their receiving his ancestral allotment.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession ('our father's name')→ relational specificationπατήρ (gen. πατρός): the father whose name and portion are at risk; the genitive ties the threatened 'name' specifically to Zelophehad.
ἡμῶνof us / ourGenitivegenitive of possession (1st person plural)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'of us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (1st person plural).
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
μέσουmidstGenitiveobject of ἐκ (idiomatic: 'from the midst of')→ relational specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐκ μέσου + genitive ('from the midst of') renders מִתּוֹךְ; to be removed 'from the midst of his clan' is to be excised from the land-holding kinship unit.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δήμουclanGenitivegenitive with μέσου ('the midst of his clan')→ relational specificationδῆμος: 'clan / family'; renders מִשְׁפָּחָה; the kinship unit within which land is held; loss of a portion within the δῆμος means the disappearance of the father's line from the tribal map of Manasseh.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his clan')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his clan').
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the ground of the threatened erasure — the absence of a son — restating the legal gap as the reason the tribunal must act.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστινis / there isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of ὅτι-clause (existential: 'there is not')→ stative present (the present standing fact)εἰμί (pres. ἔστιν): the existential 'there is no son to him' = 'he has no son'; the present tense states the ongoing legal condition that requires a ruling.
αὐτῷto him / for himDativedative of possession ('he has no son')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession ('he has no son').
υἱόςsonNominativesubject of ἔστιν (existential: 'no son')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the singular υἱός (vs. plural υἱοί in v. 3) sharpens the legal point to the precise question of a single male heir — the condition the inheritance statute of vv. 8–11 will address.
δότεgiveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (direct imperative to the tribunal)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive request for a grant)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the aorist imperative δότε is the petition's operative demand — that the assembly grant the daughters a κατάσχεσις; its boldness (a direct command from female petitioners to the male tribunal) marks the case's exceptional character.
ἡμῖνto usDativeindirect object (dative: 'to us')→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): the recipients of the requested grant — the five sisters as joint heirs.
κατάσχεσινpossessionAccusativedirect object of δότε→ object specificationκατάσχεσις: 'possession / holding / property'; renders אֲחֻזָּה, the technical term for an inalienable, inherited land-holding; the daughters ask not for charity but for a legally secured territorial portion among their father's brothers.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
μέσῳmidstDativeobject of ἐν (idiomatic: 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: ἐν μέσῳ + genitive ('in the midst of') renders בְּתוֹךְ; the requested portion is to lie 'among' the father's brothers' holdings — a full place within the clan's allotment.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive with μέσῳ ('among the brothers')→ relational specificationἀδελφός (pl. ἀδελφῶν): 'brother'; renders אָח; here the father's brothers (the daughters' paternal uncles), among whose land-portions the requested κατάσχεσις is to be set.
πατρὸςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('our father's brothers')→ relational specificationπατήρ (gen. πατρός): the phrase ἀδελφῶν πατρὸς ἡμῶν ('our father's brothers') specifies the kinship circle within which the inheritance claim is pressed.
ἡμῶνof us / ourGenitivegenitive of possession (1st person plural)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'of us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (1st person plural).
5
καὶ προσήγαγεν Μωυσῆς τὴν κρίσιν αὐτῶν ἔναντι κυρίου
And Moses brought their case before the LORD.
The single-clause verse marks the procedural turning-point: rather than ruling on his own authority, Moses 'brings' (προσήγαγεν) the daughters' κρίσις directly before the LORD. The verb προσάγω, cognate with προσέρχομαι of v. 1, mirrors the daughters' approach — they draw near to Moses, Moses draws their case near to YHWH, the supreme judge.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσήγαγενbrought / presentedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (Moses refers the case)→ constative aorist (single completed referral)προσάγω: 'bring to / present / lead forward'; renders קָרַב (Hiphil); in legal-cultic contexts προσάγω denotes presenting a person, offering, or matter before God or an authority; here Moses presents the daughters' suit to YHWH for adjudication, declining to legislate apart from divine oracle.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίσινcase / judgmentAccusativedirect object of προσήγαγεν→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / legal case / cause'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; here in the forensic sense of 'lawsuit / case to be decided'; the term anticipates the δικαίωμα κρίσεως ('ordinance of judgment') in which the verdict is enshrined at v. 11.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their case')→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('their case').
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (presenting before the judge)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; the case is set ἔναντι κυρίου — before YHWH as supreme arbiter; the same preposition that placed the daughters before the human tribunal (v. 2) now places their cause before the divine court.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the true judge of the case, whose oracular verdict (vv. 6–7) settles the matter and becomes binding statute.
6
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
The standard LXX divine-speech formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων opens the oracular response. Its appearance here, immediately after Moses brings the case before YHWH (v. 5), signals that the ruling to follow carries full divine authority — it is not Moses' legal opinion but YHWH's verdict.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר (Piel); the formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων is the recurring marker of authoritative divine legislation throughout the Pentateuch; here it introduces the verdict that vindicates the daughters.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the nominative subject identifies the verdict as unmediated YHWH-speech.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of speech)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): the recipient of the divine verdict, who will then transmit it both as a specific grant to the daughters (v. 7) and as a general statute to Israel (vv. 8–11).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (Hebraizing redundant 'saying')→ coincident present participle (introducing direct discourse)λέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the redundant participle λέγων calques the Hebrew לֵאמֹר, the standard particle introducing the content of speech; a pervasive Septuagintal Hebraism.
7
ὀρθῶς θυγατέρες Σαλπααδ λελαλήκασιν δόμα δώσεις αὐταῖς κατάσχεσιν κληρονομίας ἐν μέσῳ ἀδελφῶν πατρὸς αὐτῶν καὶ περιθήσεις τὸν κλῆρον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν αὐταῖς
'The daughters of Zelophehad have spoken rightly. You shall surely give them a possession of inheritance in the midst of their father's brothers, and you shall transfer their father's allotment to them.
YHWH's verdict opens with emphatic forward placement of ὀρθῶς ('rightly') — the daughters' plea is judged legally sound. The perfect λελαλήκασιν ('have spoken') treats their case as a standing, settled claim. The grant is doubly framed: a cognate construction δόμα δώσεις ('a gift you shall give' = 'you shall surely give') intensifies the command, and περιθήσεις τὸν κλῆρον ('you shall transfer the allotment') uses the technical language of land-portion conveyance.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ὀρθῶςrightly / correctlyadverb of manner (fronted for emphasis, modifying λελαλήκασιν)→ clausal contributionὀρθῶς: 'rightly / correctly / justly'; renders כֵּן ('so / rightly'); its emphatic front position delivers the verdict at once — the daughters' claim is upheld as just before any details of the grant are stated.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject (of λελαλήκασιν)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ (pl. θυγατέρες): the daughters, now explicitly vindicated by divine verdict; YHWH names them as those who have spoken rightly, an extraordinary divine endorsement of female legal initiative.
Σαλπααδof Zelophehadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαλπααδ: transliteration of Hebrew צְלָפְחָד; indeclinable; the recurrence of the patronymic keeps the verdict anchored to the specific case before generalizing it into statute.
λελαλήκασινhave spokenPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (divine assessment of the petition)→ resultative perfect (their having spoken stands as a settled, valid claim)λαλέω (perf. λελαλήκασιν): 'have spoken'; the perfect tense presents the daughters' plea not as a momentary utterance but as an established, standing claim whose validity YHWH now ratifies; the perfect underscores the enduring legal force of what they said.
δόμαa giftAccusativecognate accusative (with δώσεις: intensifying Hebraism)→ object specificationδόμα: 'gift / grant'; cognate with δίδωμι; the construction δόμα δώσεις ('a gift you shall give') is a cognate accusative calquing the Hebrew infinitive-absolute intensification (נָתֹן תִּתֵּן), conveying 'you shall surely / certainly give' — the grant is mandatory and emphatic.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (command to Moses in future-imperatival force)→ imperatival future (legislative command)δίδωμι (fut. δώσεις): 'give'; the future with imperatival force is the standard LXX legislative mode (rendering the Hebrew imperfect of command); paired with the cognate δόμα it answers directly the daughters' imperative δότε (v. 4) — their 'give us!' is met with YHWH's 'you shall surely give.'
αὐταῖςto themDativeindirect object (the daughters as recipients)→ sphere or referenceαὐτός (dat. fem. pl. αὐταῖς): the feminine dative makes explicit that the grant goes to the women themselves — the legal innovation the chapter establishes.
κατάσχεσινpossessionAccusativedirect object of δώσεις→ object specificationκατάσχεσις: 'possession / inalienable holding'; renders אֲחֻזָּה; the very term the daughters requested (v. 4) is now granted in YHWH's own words, sealing the answer to their petition.
κληρονομίαςof inheritanceGenitivegenitive of definition/apposition (a possession consisting of inheritance)→ relational specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance / heritage / allotted portion'; renders נַחֲלָה; the keyword of the chapter's legal core (vv. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11); κατάσχεσιν κληρονομίας ('a possession of inheritance') fuses the two great land-terms, giving the daughters a holding with full hereditary status.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
μέσῳmidstDativeobject of ἐν (idiomatic: 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: ἐν μέσῳ + genitive ('in the midst of'); the grant is located precisely where the daughters asked it to be (cf. v. 4), among the father's brothers.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive with μέσῳ ('among the brothers')→ relational specificationἀδελφός (pl. ἀδελφῶν): the paternal uncles among whose allotments the daughters' portion is to lie; the grant integrates the women into the clan's territorial structure.
πατρὸςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('their father's brothers')→ relational specificationπατρὸς: meaning 'of father'; it serves as genitive of relationship ('their father's brothers').
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περιθήσειςyou shall transfer / cause to pass overFut Act Indic 2 Sg · περιτίθημιmain verb (command of conveyance)→ imperatival future (legislative command of transfer)περιτίθημι: lit. 'put / place around'; here in the LXX-legal sense 'cause to pass over, transfer, assign' (rendering the Hiphil of עָבַר, 'cause to pass'); the verb describes the conveyance of a land-allotment from the deceased father to his heirs; the same verb governs the descending statute of vv. 8 (περιθήσετε).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλῆρονlot / allotmentAccusativedirect object of περιθήσεις→ object specificationκλῆρος: 'lot / allotted portion / inheritance'; renders נַחֲלָה; the κλῆρος is the ancestral land-portion assigned originally by lot (cf. Num 26:55); transferring 'the father's allotment' to the daughters secures the perpetuation of his name through his land.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession ('the father's allotment')→ relational specificationπατρὸς: meaning 'father'; it serves as genitive of possession ('the father's allotment').
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
αὐταῖςto themDativeindirect object (recipients of the transferred allotment)→ sphere or referenceαὐτός (dat. fem. pl. αὐταῖς): the closing 'to them' reiterates the female recipients, sealing the grant; the verse ends as it began — with the daughters as the rightful heirs.
8
καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ λαλήσεις λέγων ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν ἀποθάνῃ καὶ υἱὸς μὴ ᾖ αὐτῷ περιθήσετε τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ τῇ θυγατρὶ αὐτοῦ
And to the sons of Israel you shall speak, saying: If a man dies and has no son, you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
The case-specific grant (v. 7) is now generalized into permanent legislation for all Israel. The casuistic form ἐάν + subjunctive ('if a man dies … you shall transfer') is the classic Near-Eastern legal idiom for a statute. This first clause states the foundational rule — daughter inherits where there is no son — from which the descending sequence of vv. 9–11 follows as successive contingencies.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativeindirect object (addressees of the statute: 'to the sons of Israel')→ sphere or referenceυἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): 'sons'; the phrase τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ('to the sons of Israel') marks the transition from a private grant to public, communal legislation binding on the whole nation.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the covenant nation to whom the inheritance statute is given as enduring law.
λαλήσειςyou shall speakFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (command to promulgate the statute)→ imperatival future (command to Moses as legislator-herald)λαλέω (fut. λαλήσεις): 'speak'; the imperatival future commissions Moses to promulgate the following statute to Israel; he is the conduit by which YHWH's case-verdict becomes standing national law.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (Hebraizing redundant 'saying')→ coincident present participle (introducing the statute's wording)λέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the redundant λέγων calques Hebrew לֵאמֹר, introducing the verbatim text of the law that follows.
ἄνθρωποςa man / a personNominativesubject of the protasis (casuistic: 'if a man …')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / human being / person'; renders אִישׁ; here the generic legal subject of a casuistic statute ('if a man …'), opening the conditional formula characteristic of Pentateuchal case-law.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive it forms the protasis of a casuistic law; the ἐάν-clause renders the Hebrew כִּי / אִם of legal conditions, the standard frame for statutory case-law.
ἀποθάνῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive: 'if he dies')→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical completed event)ἀποθνῄσκω (aor. subj. ἀποθάνῃ): 'die'; the aorist subjunctive in the ἐάν-clause states the hypothetical triggering event of the statute — the death of a man — viewed as a single completed contingency.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining second protasis condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
υἱὸςsonNominativesubject of second protasis clause ('and a son is not to him')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the condition καὶ υἱὸς μὴ ᾖ αὐτῷ ('and there is no son to him') specifies the precise legal gap — absence of a male heir — that the statute addresses; this is the exact situation of Zelophehad generalized.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ᾖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative used with the subjunctive of the conditional clause; 'if … a son should not be to him.'
ᾖbe / there bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of second protasis clause (existential subjunctive)→ present subjunctive (the contingent state of having no son)εἰμί (pres. subj. ᾖ): 'be'; the existential subjunctive 'should there not be a son to him' = 'if he has no son'; the dative αὐτῷ supplies possession, exactly mirroring the language of the daughters' plea (vv. 3–4).
αὐτῷto him / for himDativedative of possession ('he has no son')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): dative of possession completing 'if he has no son'; the recurrence of the same idiom from vv. 3–4 binds the statute to the precipitating case.
περιθήσετεyou shall transferFut Act Indic 2 Pl · περιτίθημιmain verb of apodosis (legislative command, 2nd person plural)→ imperatival future (statutory command to the community)περιτίθημι (fut. περιθήσετε): 'transfer / cause to pass over'; the plural addresses the whole community as executors of the law; the same conveyance-verb used of the daughters' grant (περιθήσεις, v. 7) now governs the general rule and its successive clauses (vv. 9–11, δώσετε).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativedirect object of περιθήσετε→ object specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance / heritage'; renders נַחֲלָה; the keyword of the statute, repeated in each clause of vv. 8–11; the inheritance is the ancestral land-portion whose transmission the law now regulates.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his inheritance')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his inheritance').
τῇto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατρὶdaughterDativeindirect object (the heir: 'to his daughter')→ sphere or referenceθυγάτηρ (dat. θυγατρί): 'daughter'; the foundational ruling of the statute — in the absence of a son, the daughter is the first heir; this is the legal innovation the daughters of Zelophehad secured, now law for all Israel.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his daughter')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his daughter').
9
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ θυγάτηρ αὐτῷ δώσετε τὴν κληρονομίαν τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ
And if he has no daughter, you shall give the inheritance to his brother.
The casuistic chain continues: the conjunction δέ shifts from the foundational rule (v. 8) to the first subordinate contingency. If even a daughter is lacking, the inheritance descends to the deceased's brother. The repeated ἐὰν δὲ μὴ … structure (vv. 9, 10, 11) forms a tightly graded legal cascade moving outward through ever more distant kin.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (+ subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; opens the next casuistic contingency in the descending order of heirs.
δὲbut / andmild adversative/continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive particle marking the transition to the next legal sub-case in the graded sequence.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ᾖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾖbe / there bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of protasis (existential subjunctive)→ present subjunctive (contingent absence of a daughter)εἰμί (pres. subj. ᾖ): 'be'; 'if there should not be a daughter to him' = 'if he has no daughter'; the existential subjunctive with dative of possession parallels v. 8.
θυγάτηρdaughterNominativesubject of ᾖ ('if a daughter is not …')→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the heir of v. 8 now becomes the lacking party in the next contingency, advancing the cascade to the brother.
αὐτῷto him / for himDativedative of possession ('he has no daughter')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession ('he has no daughter').
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (legislative command)→ imperatival future (statutory command)δίδωμι (fut. δώσετε): 'give'; the plural imperatival future addresses the community as executors; δώσετε replaces περιθήσετε of v. 8 as the operative conveyance-verb for the remaining clauses (vv. 9–11).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativedirect object of δώσετε→ object specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance'; the ancestral land-portion, the object transferred at each rung of the descending statute.
τῷto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῷbrotherDativeindirect object (the heir at this rung: 'to his brother')→ sphere or referenceἀδελφός (dat. ἀδελφῷ): 'brother'; the deceased's own brother is the next heir after sons and daughters — the first lateral (non-descending) heir in the sequence.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his brother')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his brother').
10
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ὦσιν αὐτῷ ἀδελφοί δώσετε τὴν κληρονομίαν τῷ ἀδελφῷ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ
And if he has no brothers, you shall give the inheritance to his father's brother.
The cascade widens to the previous generation: failing brothers, the inheritance passes to the father's brother (the paternal uncle). The shift from singular ᾖ (vv. 8–9) to plural ὦσιν reflects that brothers may be several; their total absence triggers the move outward to the uncle's line.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (+ subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δὲbut / andmild adversative/continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ὦσιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὦσινbe / there bePres Act Subj 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of protasis (existential subjunctive, plural)→ present subjunctive (contingent absence of brothers)εἰμί (pres. subj. 3 pl. ὦσιν): 'be'; the plural 'if there should not be to him brothers' = 'if he has no brothers'; the plural subject (multiple potential brothers) distinguishes this clause from the singular conditions of vv. 8–9.
αὐτῷto him / for himDativedative of possession ('he has no brothers')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession ('he has no brothers').
ἀδελφοίbrothersNominativesubject of ὦσιν ('if brothers are not …')→ participant prominenceἀδελφός (pl. ἀδελφοί): 'brothers'; the heirs of v. 9 are now the lacking party, advancing the cascade to the paternal uncle.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (legislative command)→ imperatival future (statutory command)δίδωμι (fut. δώσετε): 'give'; the recurring conveyance-command of the statute's lateral clauses.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativedirect object of δώσετε→ object specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance'; the land-portion conveyed at this rung of the descending order.
τῷto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῷbrotherDativeindirect object ('to the brother of his father')→ sphere or referenceἀδελφός (dat. ἀδελφῷ): here, qualified by τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, the 'father's brother' = the paternal uncle, the next heir after the deceased's own brothers.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('his father's brother')→ relational specificationπατήρ (gen. πατρός): the phrase τῷ ἀδελφῷ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ('to his father's brother') identifies the paternal uncle, expanding the heir-search to the previous generation's lateral line.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his father')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his father').
11
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ὦσιν ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ δώσετε τὴν κληρονομίαν τῷ οἰκείῳ τῷ ἔγγιστα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς αὐτοῦ κληρονομήσει τὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσται τοῦτο τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ δικαίωμα κρίσεως καθὰ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ
And if his father has no brothers, you shall give the inheritance to the kinsman nearest to him from his tribe; he shall inherit what is his. And this shall be for the sons of Israel an ordinance of judgment, just as the LORD commanded Moses.
The cascade reaches its outer limit: failing even paternal uncles, the inheritance goes to the nearest kinsman of the clan (τῷ οἰκείῳ τῷ ἔγγιστα). The statute then closes with the legislative seal καὶ ἔσται τοῦτο … δικαίωμα κρίσεως ('and this shall be an ordinance of judgment') and the conformity-formula καθὰ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ, marking the verdict's elevation to permanent, divinely authorized case-law.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (+ subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δὲbut / andmild adversative/continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ὦσιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὦσινbe / there bePres Act Subj 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of protasis (existential subjunctive, plural)→ present subjunctive (contingent absence of paternal uncles)εἰμί (pres. subj. 3 pl. ὦσιν): 'be'; 'if there should not be brothers of his father' = 'if his father has no brothers'; the last and outermost contingency of the heir-cascade.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject of ὦσιν ('if brothers of his father are not …')→ participant prominenceἀδελφός (pl. ἀδελφοί): 'brothers'; the paternal uncles of v. 10 now become the lacking party, pushing the inheritance to the nearest remaining clansman.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('his father's brothers')→ relational specificationπατήρ (gen. πατρός): ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ('brothers of his father') = the paternal uncles, whose absence is the final condition.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (legislative command)→ imperatival future (statutory command)δίδωμι (fut. δώσετε): 'give'; the conveyance-command at the final rung of the inheritance order.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativedirect object of δώσετε→ object specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance'; the land-portion, conveyed here to the nearest clansman as the last eligible heir.
τῷto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκείῳkinsman / household memberDativeindirect object (substantivized adjective: 'to the kinsman')→ sphere or referenceοἰκεῖος: 'belonging to the household, related'; substantivized 'kinsman / relative'; renders שְׁאֵר ('blood-relation') / קָרוֹב; designates the nearest member of the extended family-clan, the residual heir when all nearer kin fail.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἔγγιστα, attributive: 'the nearest')→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔγγισταnearestsuperlative adverb used attributively (with article: 'the nearest one')→ clausal contributionἔγγιστα: superlative adverb of ἐγγύς ('near'), 'nearest / next'; renders the Hebrew הַקָּרֹב ('the near[est]'); articularized (τῷ ἔγγιστα) it functions adjectivally to specify the closest kinsman by degree of relationship — the principle later embodied in the kinsman-redeemer (גֹּאֵל).
αὐτοῦto him / hisGenitivegenitive of relation (with ἔγγιστα: 'nearest to him')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): the genitive defines the reference-point of nearness — the kinsman nearest to the deceased within the clan.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source/origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / out of'; ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς αὐτοῦ ('from his tribe') keeps the inheritance within the tribal boundary — the same principle that ch. 36 will invoke to restrict the daughters' marriages, lest land pass between tribes.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from his tribe')→ relational specificationφυλή: 'tribe'; renders מַטֶּה / שֵׁבֶט; the inheritance must remain within the deceased's own tribe, safeguarding the integrity of tribal land-holdings — a concern central to the supplementary legislation of ch. 36.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his tribe')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his tribe').
κληρονομήσειhe shall inheritFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κληρονομέωmain verb (the kinsman as subject: 'he shall inherit')→ predictive/legislative future (entitlement of the heir)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take as a possession'; renders נָחַל / יָרַשׁ; the cognate verb to κληρονομία seals the statute: the nearest kinsman 'shall inherit what is his,' completing the descending order of succession.
τὰthe thingsAccusativesubstantivized article (neuter plural: 'the things of him' = his property)→ noun-phrase markingὁ/ἡ/τό: the neuter plural article τά substantivized with αὐτοῦ ('the [things] of him') denotes the deceased's property/estate as the object of inheritance.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with τά: 'his property')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with τά: 'his property').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing closing formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of closing formula (predicate: 'this shall be')→ predictive/legislative future (the verdict becomes standing law)εἰμί (fut. mid. ἔσται): 'be'; the formula καὶ ἔσται τοῦτο … δικαίωμα κρίσεως renders וְהָיְתָה … לְחֻקַּת מִשְׁפָּט; the future of εἰμί elevates the ruling to a permanent institution binding on Israel.
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject (demonstrative: 'this [statute]')→ participant referenceοὗτος: the demonstrative τοῦτο gathers up the whole preceding inheritance-ruling as a single legal entity now enshrined as statute.
τοῖςto the / for theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage/reference ('for the sons of Israel')→ sphere or referenceυἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): 'sons'; τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ('for the sons of Israel') marks the statute as binding on the whole covenant community in perpetuity.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the covenant nation bound by the new inheritance-statute.
δικαίωμαordinance / statuteNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσται: 'shall be an ordinance')→ participant prominenceδικαίωμα: 'ordinance / statute / legal requirement'; renders חֻקָּה; in the phrase δικαίωμα κρίσεως ('ordinance of judgment') it designates a binding judicial statute derived from a settled case — a legal precedent fixed into permanent law.
κρίσεωςof judgmentGenitivegenitive of definition (defining the kind of ordinance)→ relational specificationκρίσις (gen. κρίσεως): 'judgment / legal decision'; the genitive δικαίωμα κρίσεως renders חֻקַּת מִשְׁפָּט ('a statute of judgment / ordinance of justice'); the phrase brackets the pericope with the κρίσις Moses brought before YHWH (v. 5), now crystallized into binding statutory law — the inheritance-law crux of the chapter.
καθὰjust as / according ascomparative conjunction (conformity formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the standard conformity-formula affirming that the statute matches YHWH's express command to Moses.
συνέταξενcommanded / ordainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντάσσωverb of comparative clause ('as the LORD commanded')→ constative aorist (the completed divine command)συντάσσω: 'arrange together / command / ordain'; renders צִוָּה; the standard LXX verb for authoritative divine ordinance; the formula καθὰ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ certifies the statute's divine origin and closes the legal unit.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of συνέταξεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; YHWH is the ultimate author of the inheritance-statute, which thus carries the full weight of divine law.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Μωυσῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜωυσῇMosesDativeindirect object of συνέταξεν ('commanded to Moses')→ sphere or referenceΜωυσῆς (dat. Μωυσῇ): the mediator to whom the command was given and through whom it becomes Israel's law; the dative closes the formula and the whole pericope of vv. 1–11.
12
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἀνάβηθι εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦτο ὄρος Ναβαυ καὶ ἰδὲ τὴν γῆν Χανααν ἣν ἐγὼ δίδωμι τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ἐν κατασχέσει
And the LORD said to Moses, 'Go up to the mountain that is in the region beyond — this is Mount Nebo — and see the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel for a possession.
The chapter's second half opens abruptly with a fresh divine speech that turns from Israel's future in the land to Moses' exclusion from it. The command ἀνάβηθι ('go up') to Mount Nebo/Abarim to ἰδέ ('see') the land he cannot enter is poignant: Moses will view the κατάσχεσις granted to all Israel — the very word used of the daughters' grant (vv. 4, 7) — but will not share in it.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (divine speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces YHWH's announcement of Moses' impending death and the showing of the land — a turn from legislation to the personal destiny of the lawgiver.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of speech)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): the recipient of the announcement of his own death.
ἀνάβηθιgo upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (divine command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command to ascend)ἀναβαίνω (aor. impv. ἀνάβηθι): 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the command to ascend the mountain echoes Aaron's ascent of Mount Hor to die (Num 20:25–28) and anticipates Moses' own death on Nebo (Deut 34:1–5).
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄροςmountainAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal of ascent)→ object specificationὄρος: 'mountain / hill'; renders הַר; here the mountain of the Abarim range (cf. Num 33:47–48; Deut 32:49) from which Moses will view the land.
τὸthe [one]Accusativearticle (with the following prepositional phrase, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingὁ/ἡ/τό: the repeated article τὸ … τὸ ἐν τῷ πέραν substantivizes the locative phrase into an attributive modifier ('the [mountain] that is in the region beyond').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing πέραν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανbeyond / the other sideadverb substantivized by article ('the region beyond')→ noun-phrase markingπέραν: adverb 'across / beyond / on the other side'; with the article τῷ πέραν it denotes 'the region beyond' (the Transjordan east of the Jordan), where the Abarim range stands; renders עֵבֶר, the root underlying the name Abarim (הָעֲבָרִים).
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject of implied copula (appositional identification: 'this is Mount Nebo')→ participant referenceοὗτος: the demonstrative τοῦτο introduces the explanatory identification 'this [is] Mount Nebo,' a narratorial gloss naming the peak of the Abarim from which the land is seen (cf. Deut 34:1).
ὄροςmountainNominativepredicate nominative (in the identifying clause)→ participant prominenceὄρος: here in the identifying clause 'this is Mount Nebo,' specifying the precise summit.
ΝαβαυNeboappositional identification (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαβαυ: transliteration of Hebrew נְבוֹ (Nebo); indeclinable; the peak of the Abarim/Pisgah range in Moab from which Moses views Canaan and where he dies (Deut 34:1–5).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδὲsee / beholdAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (second divine command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (command to behold)ὁράω (2nd aor. impv. ἰδέ, from εἶδον): 'see / behold'; renders רָאָה; the command to 'see' the land — but not to enter it — is the keynote of Moses' bittersweet end (cf. Deut 3:27; 34:4).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ἰδέ→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; τὴν γῆν Χανααν ('the land of Canaan') is the promised inheritance Moses may see but not possess.
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of apposition (indeclinable proper noun: 'the land of Canaan')→ participant identificationΧανααν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּנַעַן (Canaan); indeclinable; the promised land destined for the sons of Israel.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δίδωμι, modifying γῆν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: the relative pronoun ἥν (acc. fem.) introduces the clause describing the land as YHWH's present gift to Israel.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun: YHWH as giver)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' stresses that the land is YHWH's own gift — his sovereign grant, paralleling the divine first-person of the inheritance statute and underscoring that Moses' exclusion is also by divine decree.
δίδωμιI give / am givingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (divine present of giving)→ futuristic/progressive present (the giving already in motion)δίδωμι (pres. δίδωμι): 'give'; the present tense presents the gift of the land as already in process of bestowal — a settled divine purpose moving toward fulfillment under Joshua.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativeindirect object of δίδωμι ('to the sons of Israel')→ sphere or referenceυἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): the recipients of the land-gift, the covenant nation.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
ἐνfor / aspreposition + dative (Hebraizing 'as / for a possession')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here ἐν κατασχέσει ('for a possession') is a Hebraism rendering לַאֲחֻזָּה ('as / for a holding'); the ἐν of result/purpose marks the land's status as Israel's inalienable inheritance.
κατασχέσειpossessionDativeobject of ἐν (Hebraizing: 'for a possession')→ sphere or referenceκατάσχεσις: 'possession / inalienable holding'; renders אֲחֻזָּה; the same term granted to the daughters (vv. 4, 7) now describes the whole land given to Israel — Moses sees the κατάσχεσις he will not personally enter.
13
καὶ ὄψει αὐτὴν καὶ προστεθήσῃ πρὸς τὸν λαόν σου καὶ σύ καθὰ προσετέθη Ααρων ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἐν Ωρ τῷ ὄρει
And you shall see it, and you also shall be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was gathered on Mount Hor.
The verse pairs sight with death: 'you shall see it (ὄψει) … and you shall be gathered (προστεθήσῃ).' The euphemism προστίθημι πρὸς τὸν λαόν ('be added/gathered to one's people') is the patriarchal idiom for honorable death (cf. Gen 25:8; 35:29). The comparison to Aaron's death on Mount Hor (Num 20:24–28) binds the two brothers' fates: both see but neither enters, both for the same offense (v. 14).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὄψειyou shall seeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (prediction: 'you shall see')→ predictive future (the granted sight of the land)ὁράω (fut. mid. ὄψει): 'see'; renders רָאָה; the future confirms the command ἰδέ of v. 12 — Moses is permitted the sight of the land as a consolation, but the seeing is sharply bounded by the gathering that follows.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (referring to τὴν γῆν, the land)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem. αὐτήν): refers back to the feminine γῆ ('the land') of v. 12; 'you shall see it.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προστεθήσῃyou shall be gathered / addedFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (euphemistic prediction of death)→ predictive future passive (divinely-effected death)προστίθημι (fut. pass. προστεθήσῃ): lit. 'be added to'; the idiom προστεθήσῃ πρὸς τὸν λαόν σου ('you shall be gathered/added to your people') renders נֶאֱסַף אֶל־עַמָּיו, the patriarchal euphemism for death as reunion with one's ancestral dead (cf. Gen 25:8, 17; 35:29; 49:33); the passive implies divine agency in Moses' death.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the gathering)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the gathering).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativeaccusative object of πρός ('to your people')→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; here 'your people' = Moses' ancestral kin already dead; the phrase frames death as a homecoming to the fathers, softening the judgment with the dignity of the patriarchal formula.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (2nd person singular)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (2nd person singular).
καὶalso / evenadverbial/ascensive (with σύ: 'you also')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here ascensive 'also / even' with the emphatic σύ — 'you too,' joining Moses to Aaron's fate.
σύyouNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun: 'you also')→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun 'you (yourself)' stresses that Moses, like Aaron, shares the sentence of seeing-but-not-entering; the καὶ σύ ('you also') links the two brothers' parallel deaths.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing the Aaron comparison)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the comparison with Aaron's death, establishing the precedent for Moses' own.
προσετέθηwas gathered / addedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιverb of comparative clause ('as Aaron was gathered')→ constative aorist passive (Aaron's completed death)προστίθημι (aor. pass. προσετέθη): the same euphemism applied to Aaron's death on Mount Hor (Num 20:24, 26); the verbal repetition (προστεθήσῃ … προσετέθη) cements the parallel between the brothers' ends.
ΑαρωνAaronsubject of προσετέθη (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑαρων: transliteration of Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (Aaron); indeclinable; Moses' elder brother and first high priest, who died on Mount Hor before entering Canaan (Num 20:22–29).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀδελφός, apposition to Aaron)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφόςbrotherNominativenominative in apposition to Ααρων ('Aaron your brother')→ participant prominenceἀδελφός: 'brother'; the apposition ὁ ἀδελφός σου ('your brother') heightens the pathos — Moses will follow his own brother in death, both barred from the land for the same fault.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship ('your brother')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('your brother').
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (location of Aaron's death)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location of Aaron's death).
ΩρHorindeclinable proper noun (with τῷ ὄρει: 'Mount Hor')→ participant identificationΩρ: transliteration of Hebrew הֹר (Hor); indeclinable; the mountain on the edge of Edom where Aaron died and was succeeded by Eleazar (Num 20:22–28; 33:38).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὄρει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειmountainDativedative of place (in apposition: 'on Mount Hor')→ sphere or referenceὄρος (dat. ὄρει): 'mountain'; ἐν Ωρ τῷ ὄρει ('on Hor the mountain') locates Aaron's death; the mountain-death of Aaron is the explicit type for Moses' coming mountain-death on Nebo.
14
διότι παρέβητε τὸ ῥῆμά μου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Σιν ἐν τῷ ἀντιπίπτειν τὴν συναγωγὴν ἁγιάσαι με οὐχ ἡγιάσατέ με ἐπὶ τῷ ὕδατι ἔναντι αὐτῶν τοῦτό ἐστιν ὕδωρ ἀντιλογίας Καδης ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Σιν
because you transgressed my word in the wilderness of Zin, when the congregation rebelled — to sanctify me; you did not sanctify me at the water before them. This is the water of strife of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
The διότi-clause supplies the ground for the sentence of vv. 12–13: Moses and Aaron (note plural παρέβητε, ἡγιάσατε) 'transgressed my word' at the waters of strife. The offense is defined as a failure to 'sanctify' YHWH (ἁγιάσαι με … οὐχ ἡγιάσατέ με) before the congregation — the incident of Num 20:1–13. The closing narratorial gloss identifies the place: 'the water of strife of Kadesh' (ὕδωρ ἀντιλογίας Καδης).
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
διότιbecausecausal conjunction (giving the reason for the sentence)→ discourse linkage or contrastδιότι: 'because / for the reason that'; renders עַל / יַעַן אֲשֶׁר; introduces the causal ground of Moses' (and Aaron's) exclusion from the land.
παρέβητεyou transgressedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · παραβαίνωmain verb of causal clause (2nd person plural: Moses and Aaron)→ constative aorist (the completed act of transgression)παραβαίνω (aor. 2 pl. παρέβητε): 'go aside / transgress / disobey'; renders מָרָה / מָעַל; the plural addresses both Moses and Aaron as culpable at Meribah; the compound παρα- ('alongside / past') pictures stepping past the bounds of YHWH's command.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμάword / commandAccusativedirect object of παρέβητε ('my word')→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / saying / command'; renders דָּבָר / פֶּה; here YHWH's explicit instruction at the rock (Num 20:8), which Moses violated by striking rather than speaking and by his angry speech to the people.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my word')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('my word').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place ('in the wilderness of Zin')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness'; renders מִדְבָּר; the wilderness of Zin (Σιν), site of Kadesh and of the Meribah incident, distinct from the wilderness of Sin (Σιν likewise in LXX) near Sinai.
Σινof Zingenitive of apposition (indeclinable proper noun: 'wilderness of Zin')→ participant identificationΣιν: transliteration of Hebrew צִן (Zin); indeclinable; the wilderness region around Kadesh in which the rebellion at the waters of Meribah occurred (Num 20:1).
ἐνin / whenpreposition + articular infinitive (temporal: 'when …')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with the articular infinitive τῷ ἀντιπίπτειν forms a temporal clause ('when the congregation rebelled'), a common LXX construction rendering the Hebrew infinitive construct with בְּ.
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive ἀντιπίπτειν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀντιπίπτεινto rebel / resistPres Act Inf · ἀντιπίπτωarticular infinitive in temporal clause (subject: τὴν συναγωγήν)→ present infinitive (the ongoing act of resistance)ἀντιπίπτω: lit. 'fall against / oppose / resist'; renders the contention of the people at Meribah (Num 20:2–5); the compound ἀντι- ('against') depicts the congregation's open opposition; the same root underlies the place-name's sense of 'strife.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (accusative subject of the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴνcongregationAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive ('the congregation rebelling')→ object specificationσυναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; the accusative subject of ἀντιπίπτειν; the congregation's rebellion is the occasion of Moses' fatal failure to sanctify YHWH before them.
ἁγιάσαιto sanctify / hallowAor Act Inf · ἁγιάζωinfinitive of purpose/result (the duty Moses failed: 'to sanctify me')→ aorist infinitive (the required decisive act of hallowing)ἁγιάζω (aor. inf. ἁγιάσαι): 'make holy / sanctify / treat as holy'; renders קָדַשׁ (Hiphil); the infinitive states the obligation Moses failed to fulfill — to vindicate YHWH's holiness before the people at the rock (cf. Num 20:12, 'you did not believe me, to sanctify me').
μεmeAccusativeobject of ἁγιάσαι ('to sanctify me')→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): YHWH as the object of the sanctifying that Moses failed to render.
οὐχnotnegative particle (negating ἡγιάσατε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐχ before rough breathing): the flat negation of fact; 'you did not sanctify me' states the failure plainly.
ἡγιάσατέyou sanctifiedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἁγιάζωmain verb (negated: 'you did not sanctify')→ constative aorist (the failure as a completed fact)ἁγιάζω (aor. 2 pl. ἡγιάσατε): the indicative repeats the verb of the infinitive to drive home the indictment — what they were to do (ἁγιάσαι), they did not do (οὐχ ἡγιάσατε); the plural again implicates both Moses and Aaron.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἡγιάσατε ('sanctify me')→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἡγιάσατε ('sanctify me').
ἐπὶat / overpreposition + dative (location of the offense)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dative: 'at / by / over'; ἐπὶ τῷ ὕδατι ('at the water') locates the failure precisely at the waters of Meribah.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατιwaterDativeobject of ἐπί ('at the water')→ sphere or referenceὕδωρ (dat. ὕδατι): 'water'; renders מַיִם; the water Moses brought from the rock by striking it in disobedience and anger — the scene of his fatal lapse.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before them')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the sight of'; the failure to sanctify YHWH happened publicly, ἔναντι αὐτῶν ('before them' = the congregation) — a public dishonoring of God that demanded a public consequence.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι (the congregation)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): refers to the congregation before whom the offense was committed.
τοῦτόthisNominativesubject of identifying clause ('this is the water of strife')→ participant referenceοὗτος (τοῦτο): the demonstrative introduces the narratorial place-name gloss identifying the location.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (identifying clause: 'this is …')→ stative present (timeless identification)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the copula of the etiological identification 'this is the water of strife of Kadesh.'
ὕδωρwaterNominativepredicate nominative ('the water of strife')→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; here in the fixed name ὕδωρ ἀντιλογίας ('water of strife/contradiction'), the LXX rendering of מֵי מְרִיבָה (Meribah).
ἀντιλογίαςof strife / contradictionGenitivegenitive of quality/definition ('water of strife')→ relational specificationἀντιλογία: 'contradiction / dispute / strife'; renders מְרִיבָה (Meribah, 'strife'); the LXX renders the place-name by sense; the phrase ὕδωρ ἀντιλογίας is taken up later as a byword for Israel's contention (cf. Ps 80[81]:8; Heb 3:8 ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ).
Καδηςof Kadeshgenitive of apposition (indeclinable proper noun: 'of Kadesh')→ participant identificationΚαδης: transliteration of Hebrew קָדֵשׁ (Kadesh); indeclinable; the oasis-settlement in the wilderness of Zin where the strife at the waters occurred (Num 20:1).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place ('in the wilderness of Zin')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: the repetition ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Σιν frames the verse (inclusio), fixing the geographical and theological setting of Moses' disqualifying offense.
Σινof Zingenitive of apposition (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣιν: transliteration of צִן (Zin); indeclinable; closing the verse where it began, in the wilderness of Zin.
15
καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς κύριον
And Moses said to the LORD,
The brief speech-introduction marks the moment Moses, having just received his death-sentence (vv. 12–14), turns not to self-pity but to intercession for the people's future leadership. The direction πρὸς κύριον (Moses speaking to YHWH) reverses the usual πρὸς Μωυσῆν of the divine-speech formulas, signaling the prophet's bold approach to God on the congregation's behalf.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces Moses' intercessory petition; the selflessness of his response to the death-sentence — caring for the flock rather than himself — is the moral high point of his portrait here.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: the prophet who, told of his own death, intercedes for a successor — the shepherd-heart later echoed in the Gospel portrait of Jesus (Matt 9:36).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee of the petition)→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; Moses addresses YHWH directly, invoking him in the next verse with the rare title 'God of the spirits and of all flesh.'
16
ἐπισκεψάσθω κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σαρκὸς ἄνθρωπον ἐπὶ τῆς συναγωγῆς ταύτης
'Let the LORD, the God of the spirits and of all flesh, appoint a man over this congregation,
Moses' petition invokes YHWH by the solemn title ὁ θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σαρκὸς ('the God of the spirits and of all flesh', cf. Num 16:22), a title fitting precisely because the request concerns a man endowed with the Spirit (v. 18). The verb ἐπισκεψάσθω ('let him appoint / oversee') frames leadership as a divine designation, not a human election.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἐπισκεψάσθωlet appoint / let him appointAor Mid Impv 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (third-person imperative of petition)→ ingressive aorist imperative (request for a decisive divine act)ἐπισκέπτομαι: 'look upon / inspect / visit / appoint'; renders פָּקַד; here in the sense 'designate / appoint by oversight'; the third-person imperative is a deferential petition ('let the LORD appoint'); the same verb is used of mustering the people (Num 1) and of God's gracious 'visitation' — here it asks God to single out the right man.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐπισκεψάσθω→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the divine name heads the invocation; only YHWH, who knows the spirits of all, can appoint a true shepherd over his people.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός, in apposition to κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος ('the LORD, the God …')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the appositional title ὁ θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σαρκός identifies YHWH as the sovereign over every living being's life-breath — apt for a petition about a Spirit-filled successor.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνευμάτωνspiritsGenitivegenitive object (of the title: 'God of the spirits')→ relational specificationπνεῦμα (pl. πνευμάτων): 'spirit / breath'; renders רוּחַ; in the title ὁ θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων ('God of the spirits', cf. Num 16:22) it names YHWH as the giver and ruler of the life-breath of all; the noun anticipates the πνεῦμα Joshua possesses (v. 18), tying the title to the request.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάσηςallGenitiveattributive adjective (with σαρκός: 'of all flesh')→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάσης σαρκός ('of all flesh') universalizes the title — YHWH is God of every living creature, the one fit to choose a leader for his whole people.
σαρκὸςfleshGenitivegenitive object (of the title: 'God … of all flesh')→ relational specificationσάρξ (gen. σαρκός): 'flesh / living creature'; renders בָּשָׂר; in the pairing 'spirits … and all flesh' it forms a merism for the totality of living beings, whose Creator alone can designate their shepherd.
ἄνθρωπονa manAccusativedirect object of ἐπισκεψάσθω ('appoint a man')→ object specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; renders אִישׁ; the object of the appointing — a single individual to lead; the indefinite 'a man' is answered in v. 18 by the naming of Joshua, 'a man (ἄνθρωπον) who has the Spirit.'
ἐπὶoverpreposition + genitive (authority over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + genitive: 'over / in charge of'; ἐπὶ τῆς συναγωγῆς ('over the congregation') expresses the appointed man's authority above the assembly as its leader.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί ('over the congregation')→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; the people for whom Moses seeks a shepherd; the leitmotif noun (see v. 2) returns as the object of the leader's care.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying συναγωγῆς: 'this congregation')→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. fem. ταύτης): the demonstrative 'this congregation' makes the petition concrete and present — the very people standing before Moses, soon to be left without him.
17
ὅστις ἐξελεύσεται πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν καὶ ὅστις εἰσελεύσεται πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν καὶ ὅστις ἐξάξει αὐτοὺς καὶ ὅστις εἰσάξει αὐτούς καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἡ συναγωγὴ κυρίου ὡσεὶ πρόβατα οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν ποιμήν
who will go out before them and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out and who will bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.'
Four parallel ὅστις-clauses define the leader by the military-pastoral idiom of 'going out and coming in' (ἐξέρχομαι / εἰσέρχομαι, ἐξάγω / εἰσάγω) — the language of leading an army and guiding a flock. The climactic purpose is the famous shepherd-image: lest the LORD's congregation be ὡσεὶ πρόβατα οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν ποιμήν ('as sheep that have no shepherd'), a phrase echoed at Matt 9:36 and Mark 6:34 in the Gospel portraits of Jesus' compassion on the crowds.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
ὅστιςwho / one whoNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject of ἐξελεύσεται)→ participant referenceὅστις: indefinite relative 'whoever / one who'; renders אֲשֶׁר; the fourfold ὅστις defines by function the kind of leader sought — one qualified to lead the people out and in; the indefinite pronoun keeps the description general until Joshua is named (v. 18).
ἐξελεύσεταιwill go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιverb of relative clause (the leader's function)→ predictive/characterizing future (the leader's role)ἐξέρχομαι (fut. ἐξελεύσεται): 'go out'; the idiom 'go out and come in before them' (rendering יָצָא וּבָא לִפְנֵיהֶם) denotes leadership in war and daily governance (cf. 1 Sam 18:13; Deut 31:2); the leader walks at the head of the people.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (position: 'before / in front of')→ spatial or relational framingπρό: 'before / in front of'; πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν ('before their face') is a Hebraism (לִפְנֵיהֶם) for going at the head of the people as their leader.
προσώπουfaceGenitiveobject of πρό ('before their face')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; renders פָּנִים; in the idiom πρὸ προσώπου ('before the face of') it marks the leader's position at the front of the congregation.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive of possession ('their face')→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('their face').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining parallel ὅστις-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅστιςwhoNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject of εἰσελεύσεται)→ participant referenceὅστις: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indefinite relative pronoun (subject of εἰσελεύσεται).
εἰσελεύσεταιwill come inFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of relative clause (paired with ἐξελεύσεται)→ predictive/characterizing futureεἰσέρχομαι (fut. εἰσελεύσεται): 'come in / enter'; the complementary half of the 'go out / come in' merism, denoting the full round of the leader's guiding activity at the head of the people.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingπρὸ: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive.
προσώπουfaceGenitiveobject of πρό→ relational specificationπροσώπου: meaning 'face'; it serves as object of πρό.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅστιςwhoNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject of ἐξάξει)→ participant referenceὅστις: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indefinite relative pronoun (subject of ἐξάξει).
ἐξάξειwill lead outFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωverb of relative clause (causative leadership)→ predictive/characterizing futureἐξάγω (fut. ἐξάξει): 'lead out / bring out'; the causative counterpart to ἐξέρχομαι — the leader not only goes out himself but leads the people out; the pastoral nuance (leading a flock to pasture) prepares the shepherd-image at the verse's end.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξάξει→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): the people as the object led out by their shepherd-leader.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅστιςwhoNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject of εἰσάξει)→ participant referenceὅστις: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indefinite relative pronoun (subject of εἰσάξει).
εἰσάξειwill bring inFut Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσάγωverb of relative clause (causative leadership, paired with ἐξάξει)→ predictive/characterizing futureεἰσάγω (fut. εἰσάξει): 'bring in / lead in'; the causative counterpart to εἰσέρχομαι; the four verbs together (ἐξέρχομαι/εἰσέρχομαι, ἐξάγω/εἰσάγω) form a complete portrait of the leader who both walks before the flock and actively guides it in and out — preeminently the task Joshua will fulfill in leading Israel into Canaan.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of εἰσάξει→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εἰσάξει.
καὶand / so thatcoordinate conjunction (here introducing the purpose/result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here the paratactic καί introduces the negative purpose/result of the appointment — 'and [so that] the congregation may not be …'; a Hebraizing coordination expressing consequence.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἔσται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (negated purpose/result: 'may not be')→ predictive future (the danger to be averted)εἰμί (fut. mid. ἔσται): 'be'; the negated future expresses the outcome the petition seeks to prevent — a leaderless, scattered congregation.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject of ἔσται ('the congregation of the LORD')→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: 'congregation'; ἡ συναγωγὴ κυρίου ('the congregation of the LORD') stresses that the flock belongs to YHWH — it is his sheep that must not be left shepherdless.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession ('the LORD's congregation')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of יהוה; the genitive of possession marks the flock as YHWH's own, deepening the urgency of the request — God's own people must not wander leaderless.
ὡσεὶas / likecomparative particle (introducing the simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡσεί: 'as if / like'; renders כְּ; introduces the celebrated simile of leaderless sheep; the comparison frames the absence of a shepherd as catastrophe for the flock.
πρόβαταsheepNominativepredicate of the simile ('as sheep')→ participant prominenceπρόβατον (pl. πρόβατα): 'sheep'; renders צֹאן; the flock-image for the people of God runs throughout Scripture (Ps 23; 79[80]; Ezek 34); here it grounds the shepherd-leadership motif that the NT applies to Jesus' compassion for the shepherdless crowds (Matt 9:36; Mark 6:34).
οἷςto which / thatDativerelative pronoun (dative of possession in relative clause: 'which have no …')→ participant reference or interestὅς (dat. pl. οἷς): the relative pronoun in a dative-of-possession construction ('sheep to which there is no shepherd' = 'sheep that have no shepherd'); the dative idiom renders the Hebrew construction with אֵין … לְ.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστινis / there isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (existential: 'there is no')→ stative present (the lack of a shepherd)εἰμί (pres. ἔστιν): the existential 'there is not [a shepherd] to them' = 'they have no shepherd'; the present makes the shepherdless plight vivid and immediate.
ποιμήνshepherdNominativesubject of ἔστιν ('there is no shepherd')→ participant prominenceποιμήν: 'shepherd / herdsman'; renders רֹעֶה; the climactic word of Moses' petition; the leaderless flock needs a ποιμήν — a role Joshua now assumes and which the NT ultimately fulfills in Christ the Good Shepherd (John 10:11; Heb 13:20; cf. Matt 9:36).
18
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων λαβὲ πρὸς σεαυτὸν τὸν Ἰησοῦν υἱὸν Ναυη ἄνθρωπον ὃς ἔχει πνεῦμα ἐν ἑαυτῷ καὶ ἐπιθήσεις τὰς χεῖράς σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν
And the LORD said to Moses, 'Take to yourself Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in himself, and you shall lay your hands upon him,
YHWH answers the petition by naming the man: Joshua son of Nun, qualified precisely as ἄνθρωπον ὃς ἔχει πνεῦμα ἐν ἑαυτῷ ('a man who has the Spirit in himself'). The double command λαβέ ('take') and ἐπιθήσεις τὰς χεῖράς σου ('you shall lay your hands') institutes the commissioning by laying-on of hands — the Spirit-endowed-successor crux that resonates with Deut 34:9, Acts 6:6, and 1 Tim 4:14. Note the plural τὰς χεῖρας ('hands') here vs. the singular implied at Deut 34:9 ('his hand[s]').
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω (aor. ἐλάλησεν): 'speak'; introduces YHWH's gracious answer to Moses' intercession — the appointment of Joshua and the rite of commissioning.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the God 'of the spirits and of all flesh' (v. 16) now names the Spirit-bearing man.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): the recipient of the command to commission his own successor.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (Hebraizing redundant 'saying')→ coincident present participle (introducing direct discourse)λέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the redundant λέγων calques Hebrew לֵאמֹר, introducing the content of the command.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (divine command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command to take/designate)λαμβάνω (aor. impv. λαβέ): 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; 'take to yourself' designates Joshua and draws him into Moses' immediate circle for commissioning; the verb λαμβάνω of a person frequently signals formal designation to office (cf. Num 3:12; 8:6).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (reflexive direction: 'to yourself')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (reflexive direction: 'to yourself').
σεαυτὸνyourselfAccusativereflexive pronoun (object of πρός: 'to yourself')→ participant referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'yourself'; λαβὲ πρὸς σεαυτόν ('take to yourself') renders קַח־לְךָ; the reflexive stresses that Moses personally is to receive and present Joshua, making the transfer of office intimate and direct.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ἰησοῦν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativedirect object of λαβέ ('take Joshua')→ object specificationἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): the Greek form of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Joshua), declined in the LXX (gen. Ἰησοῦ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the very name later borne by Jesus (Ἰησοῦς), making Joshua a typological figure — the leader who brings the people into the inheritance the lawgiver could not.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ἰησοῦν ('son of Nun')→ object specificationυἱός (acc. υἱόν): the patronymic υἱὸν Ναυη ('son of Nun') identifies Joshua precisely; his Ephraimite lineage and long service as Moses' aide (Exod 24:13; 33:11; Num 11:28) make him the natural successor.
Ναυηof Nungenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun: 'son of Nun')→ participant identificationΝαυη: the LXX form of Hebrew נוּן (Nun); indeclinable; Joshua's father; the LXX consistently renders the name as Ναυη (gen.), as in Ἰησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυη throughout Joshua.
ἄνθρωπονa manAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ἰησοῦν ('a man who …')→ object specificationἄνθρωπος (acc. ἄνθρωπον): 'man'; picks up the ἄνθρωπον Moses requested (v. 16) — the indefinite 'a man over the congregation' is now identified as this specific Spirit-bearing man.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἔχει, modifying ἄνθρωπον)→ participant referenceὅς: the relative pronoun introduces Joshua's defining qualification — the possession of the Spirit; the clause ὃς ἔχει πνεῦμα ἐν ἑαυτῷ is the heart of the Spirit-endowed-successor motif.
ἔχειhasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωverb of relative clause ('who has the Spirit')→ stative present (Joshua's settled possession of the Spirit)ἔχω (pres. ἔχει): 'have / hold'; the present tense states that Joshua already possesses the Spirit — the divine qualification precedes the laying-on of hands, which confirms and publicly transfers leadership rather than first conferring the Spirit (cf. Deut 34:9, where the laying-on imparts 'the spirit of wisdom').
πνεῦμαspirit / SpiritAccusativedirect object of ἔχει ('has the Spirit')→ object specificationπνεῦμα: 'spirit / breath / Spirit'; renders רוּחַ; the anarthrous πνεῦμα here denotes the divine endowment for leadership (cf. the Spirit on the seventy elders, Num 11:17, 25); the phrase ἔχει πνεῦμα ἐν ἑαυτῷ ('has the Spirit in himself') is the Spirit-endowment crux, foundational for the laying-on-of-hands tradition (Deut 34:9; Acts 6:3, 6; 1 Tim 4:14).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location: 'in himself')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location: 'in himself').
ἑαυτῷhimselfDativereflexive pronoun (object of ἐν: 'in himself')→ participant reference or interestἑαυτοῦ (dat. ἑαυτῷ): reflexive 'himself'; ἐν ἑαυτῷ ('in himself') locates the Spirit as an indwelling, personal endowment — not an external office but an internal reality, the inner qualification for shepherding God's people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second command)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιθήσειςyou shall lay / put uponFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (command, imperatival future: 'you shall lay')→ imperatival future (command to perform the rite)ἐπιτίθημι (fut. ἐπιθήσεις): 'place upon / lay on'; renders סָמַךְ (Qal, 'lean / lay [the hand]'); the laying-on of hands (ἐπιθήσεις τὰς χεῖράς σου ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν) is the formal rite of commissioning and conferral, the foundational text for ordination by imposition of hands (Deut 34:9; Acts 6:6; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖράςhandsAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθήσεις ('your hands')→ object specificationχείρ (pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; the LXX plural τὰς χεῖράς σου ('your hands') in the divine command contrasts with the singular 'his hand' (τὰς χεῖρας / יָדוֹ) noted at Deut 34:9 and the singular execution at v. 23 below (ἐπέθηκεν τὰς χεῖρας); the laying-on of hands is the visible sign of transferred authority and Spirit-attested office.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your hands')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your hands').
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative (elided ἐπ᾿ before rough breathing): 'upon'; marks the direction of the imposition of hands onto Joshua.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (Joshua, recipient of the laying-on of hands)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): Joshua, on whom Moses lays his hands; the commissioned successor.
19
καὶ στήσεις αὐτὸν ἔναντι Ελεαζαρ τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ἐντελῇ αὐτῷ ἔναντι πάσης συναγωγῆς καὶ ἐντελῇ περὶ αὐτοῦ ἐναντίον αὐτῶν
and you shall set him before Eleazar the priest, and you shall give him a charge before all the congregation, and you shall give a charge concerning him in their sight.
The commissioning is to be public and witnessed: Joshua is 'set before' (στήσεις) Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and Moses is to 'give a charge' (ἐντελῇ) to him and concerning him before all. The pairing of priest (Eleazar) and congregation, with the doubled ἐντελῇ, establishes the legitimacy of the succession in the sight of all Israel — leadership transferred openly, not privately.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στήσειςyou shall set / standFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (command, imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command to present Joshua formally)ἵστημι (fut. act. στήσεις, transitive): 'cause to stand / set / present'; renders עָמַד (Hiphil); 'set him before Eleazar' presents Joshua formally for public commissioning; the transitive future contrasts with the daughters' intransitive στᾶσαι (v. 2) — there they took their stand, here Joshua is set in place by Moses.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of στήσεις (Joshua)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): Joshua, presented before priest and people.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before Eleazar')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; the commissioning takes place before Eleazar the priest, integrating the new civil-military leader with the priestly oracle (cf. v. 21).
ΕλεαζαρEleazargenitive object of ἔναντι (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: transliteration of אֶלְעָזָר (Eleazar); indeclinable; the high priest before whom Joshua is set; his presence frames the succession within the priestly order and provides Joshua's means of divine guidance (the Urim, v. 21).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ελεαζαρ ('Eleazar the priest')→ relational specificationἱερεύς (gen. ἱερέως): 'priest'; the title marks Eleazar's office; Joshua's authority, unlike Moses', will be subordinate to priestly oracular mediation — a deliberate diminution noted by interpreters.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐντελῇyou shall command / chargeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (command, imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command to commission)ἐντέλλομαι (fut. mid. ἐντελῇ): 'command / charge / commission'; renders צִוָּה (Piel); 'give him a charge' (ἐντελῇ αὐτῷ) is the verbal commissioning of Joshua to his office; the same verb describes Moses' own commissioning of Joshua at Deut 31:7, 23.
αὐτῷhim / to himDativeindirect object/dative complement of ἐντελῇ ('charge him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): Joshua as the one charged; the dative marks the recipient of the commissioning command.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before all the congregation')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before'; the charge is given publicly, ἔναντι πάσης συναγωγῆς ('before all the congregation'), securing the succession's legitimacy in the eyes of the whole people.
πάσηςallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγῆς)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; the whole congregation witnesses the commissioning, making it a public, communal act of recognition.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'congregation'; the leitmotif noun; the assembly before whom Joshua is commissioned and to whom he will be shepherd.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐντελῇyou shall command / chargeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (command, imperatival future; repeated)→ imperatival future (command to charge concerning him)ἐντέλλομαι (fut. mid. ἐντελῇ): the repetition of ἐντελῇ — first 'charge him,' then 'charge concerning him' (περὶ αὐτοῦ) — covers both the direct commissioning of Joshua and the instruction of the people about their new leader, a comprehensive public installation.
περὶconcerning / aboutpreposition + genitive ('concerning him')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + genitive: 'concerning / about'; περὶ αὐτοῦ ('concerning him') directs the charge toward the people regarding Joshua — instructing them about their duty to their new leader.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of περί (Joshua)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): Joshua, the subject of the charge given to the people.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the sight ofimproper preposition + genitive ('in their sight')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; ἐναντίον αὐτῶν ('in their sight') reinforces the public, witnessed character of the commissioning — the people both see and hear the transfer of office.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (the congregation)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): the congregation, before whose eyes the charge concerning Joshua is given.
20
καὶ δώσεις τῆς δόξης σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ὅπως ἂν εἰσακούσωσιν αὐτοῦ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
And you shall put some of your glory upon him, so that the sons of Israel may obey him.
The climactic command transfers a portion of Moses' δόξα ('glory / honor / authority') to Joshua — the partitive genitive τῆς δόξης ('some of your glory') indicating that Joshua receives a share, not the whole, of Moses' unique standing. The purpose clause (ὅπως ἂν εἰσακούσωσιν) states the aim: that Israel obey their new leader. The conferral of δόξα by Moses anticipates the 'spirit of wisdom' Joshua is said to be full of at Deut 34:9.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειςyou shall give / putFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (command, imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command to confer honor)δίδωμι (fut. δώσεις): 'give / bestow / place'; here 'put / confer'; renders נָתַן (cf. Hebrew 'put of your majesty/הוֹד upon him'); the conferral of authority recalls the same verb used of the daughters' grant (vv. 7, 9–11) — Moses, who dispensed inheritance, now dispenses a portion of his own honor.
τῆςof the / some of theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive: 'some of your glory')→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δόξηςglory / honor / majestyGenitivepartitive genitive (object of δώσεις: 'some of your glory')→ relational specificationδόξα (gen. δόξης): 'glory / honor / majesty / authority'; renders הוֹד ('splendor / majesty', Num 27:20); the partitive genitive τῆς δόξης ('[some] of your glory') signals that Joshua receives a measure — not the totality — of Moses' authority; rabbinic and patristic readers noted that Joshua's διminished share ('Moses' face was as the sun, Joshua's as the moon') is built into the very grammar here.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your glory')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your glory').
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative (elided ἐπ᾿): 'upon'; the glory is placed 'upon him' (Joshua), echoing the laying-on of hands ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν of v. 18 — both rites converge the transfer of office onto Joshua's person.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (Joshua)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): Joshua, recipient of the conferred glory.
ὅπωςso thatpurpose conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅπως: 'so that / in order that'; with ἄν and the subjunctive it forms a purpose clause; the aim of the conferral of glory is the people's obedience to Joshua.
ἂν(modal particle)modal particle (with ὅπως + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: the modal particle reinforcing the contingency of the purpose clause; ὅπως ἄν + subjunctive is a common LXX construction for purpose.
εἰσακούσωσινthey may obey / hearkenAor Act Subj 3 Pl · εἰσακούωverb of purpose clause (subjunctive: 'that they may obey')→ aorist subjunctive (the intended obedience)εἰσακούω (aor. subj. εἰσακούσωσιν): 'listen to / hearken / obey'; renders שָׁמַע אֶל; the compound εἰσ- intensifies to 'give heed / obey'; the conferral of Moses' glory is precisely so that Israel will render to Joshua the obedience due a divinely-authorized leader.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of εἰσακούσωσιν ('obey him'; εἰσακούω takes genitive of person heard)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): Joshua; εἰσακούω governs the genitive of the person obeyed — 'hearken to him.'
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of εἰσακούσωσιν ('the sons of Israel')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') — the congregation that is to obey Joshua, the flock now provided with its shepherd.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the covenant people whose obedience to the Spirit-endowed successor is the goal of the commissioning.
21
καὶ ἔναντι Ελεαζαρ τοῦ ἱερέως στήσεται καὶ ἐπερωτήσουσιν αὐτὸν τὴν κρίσιν τῶν δήλων ἔναντι κυρίου ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ἐξελεύσονται καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ εἰσελεύσονται αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ὁμοθυμαδὸν καὶ πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, and they shall inquire of him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD; at his word they shall go out and at his word they shall come in — he and the sons of Israel with one accord and all the congregation.
The verse specifies how Joshua will lead: unlike Moses, who spoke with YHWH 'mouth to mouth' (Num 12:8), Joshua will stand before Eleazar and receive guidance through the κρίσις τῶν δήλων ('judgment of the Urim'). The 'going out and coming in' idiom of v. 17 recurs (ἐξελεύσονται / εἰσελεύσονται), now governed by Joshua's 'word' (ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ). The shepherd-leader's authority is real but mediated through the priestly oracle.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before Eleazar')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before'; Joshua's standing 'before Eleazar the priest' defines the subordination of the new leadership to priestly oracular mediation.
ΕλεαζαρEleazargenitive object of ἔναντι (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: transliteration of אֶלְעָזָר; indeclinable; the high priest who will inquire of the LORD for Joshua by the Urim.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ελεαζαρ→ relational specificationἱερεύς (gen. ἱερέως): 'priest'; the priestly office is the channel of divine guidance for Joshua, in contrast to Moses' direct prophetic access to YHWH.
στήσεταιhe shall standFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (Joshua's habitual posture before the priest)→ predictive future (Joshua's standing role)ἵστημι (fut. mid. στήσεται, intransitive): 'stand / take one's stand'; the intransitive middle 'he shall stand' (Joshua) before the priest marks his dependence on the oracle for guidance; the same verb-root binds the chapter's stances (στᾶσαι v. 2; στήσεις v. 19; στήσεται here; ἔστησεν v. 22).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπερωτήσουσινthey shall inquire / askFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπερωτάωmain verb (impersonal/indefinite plural: 'they shall inquire')→ predictive future (the manner of seeking guidance)ἐπερωτάω (fut. ἐπερωτήσουσιν): 'ask / inquire of / consult'; renders שָׁאַל; the indefinite plural ('they shall inquire of him' = guidance shall be sought for him) describes consulting YHWH on Joshua's behalf through the priestly oracle; ἐπερωτάω is the standard verb for 'inquiring of the LORD' (cf. 1 Sam 23:2; 28:6).
αὐτὸνhim / for himAccusativeaccusative of reference (on whose behalf the inquiry is made)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): Joshua; the inquiry of the Urim is made concerning/for him — divine direction sought on his behalf for the leadership of the people.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίσινjudgment / decisionAccusativeaccusative of respect/means ('by the judgment of the Urim')→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / decision'; here τὴν κρίσιν τῶν δήλων ('the judgment of the manifestations') renders מִשְׁפַּט הָאוּרִים ('the judgment of the Urim', Num 27:21); the noun κρίσις, central to the inheritance pericope (vv. 5, 11), recurs to name the oracular verdict that will guide Joshua.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δήλωνmanifestations / UrimGenitivegenitive of definition ('judgment of the Urim/manifestations')→ relational specificationδῆλος: 'clear / manifest / evident'; substantivized neuter plural τὰ δῆλα ('the manifestations / clear-things') is the LXX's rendering of הָאוּרִים (the Urim), the priestly oracular lots kept in the breastpiece (Exod 28:30; Lev 8:8); 'the judgment of the manifestations' is the oracular means by which divine decisions are made plain to Joshua.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before'; the inquiry by the Urim is made ἔναντι κυρίου ('before the LORD'), at the sanctuary, where YHWH discloses his judgment through the priestly oracle.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of יהוה; the oracle is YHWH's own decision, made before him and disclosed through Eleazar.
ἐπὶat / bypreposition + dative ('at his word / by his command')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dative: 'at / upon / by'; ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ('at his mouth/word') is a Hebraism (עַל־פִּיו, 'according to his mouth') meaning 'at his command / by his order'; Joshua's word, derived from the oracle, governs the people's movements.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματιmouth / word / commandDativeobject of ἐπί (idiomatic: 'at his word')→ sphere or referenceστόμα (dat. στόματι): 'mouth'; in the idiom ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ('at his mouth') renders עַל־פִּיו, 'at his command'; Joshua's authoritative word — itself derived from the divine oracle — directs the going out and coming in of all Israel.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his word')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his word').
ἐξελεύσονταιthey shall go outFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the people's movement at Joshua's command)→ predictive future (the people's directed action)ἐξέρχομαι (fut. ἐξελεύσονται): 'go out'; the 'going out' idiom of v. 17 now reappears with the people as subject — at Joshua's word they go out (to war, to march); Joshua leads, but his leadership is bounded by the oracle, unlike Moses' direct commission.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶat / bypreposition + dative ('at his word')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative ('at his word').
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματιmouth / wordDativeobject of ἐπί (idiomatic: 'at his word')→ sphere or referenceστόμα (dat. στόματι): the repetition ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ … ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ frames both the going out and the coming in under Joshua's authoritative word, completing the leadership idiom.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἰσελεύσονταιthey shall come inFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (the people's movement at Joshua's command)→ predictive future (the people's directed action)εἰσέρχομαι (fut. εἰσελεύσονται): 'come in'; completes the 'go out / come in' merism — under Joshua's oracle-guided word the whole congregation moves as one; the leaderless-flock danger of v. 17 is now answered by a true shepherd.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (resumptive: 'he [and the sons of Israel]')→ participant prominenceαὐτός (nom. αὐτός): the emphatic 'he himself' (Joshua) heads the subject-list — Joshua and the whole people move together under the oracle, a unity expressed by ὁμοθυμαδόν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate with αὐτός: 'the sons of Israel')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; the whole people, moving in concord under Joshua's guidance.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
ὁμοθυμαδὸνwith one accord / togetheradverb of manner ('unanimously / together')→ clausal contributionὁμοθυμαδόν: 'with one accord / unanimously / together'; renders יַחְדָּו / כְּאֶחָד; the adverb pictures Israel moving as one under Joshua — the very opposite of scattered, shepherdless sheep (v. 17); the word later becomes a hallmark of the unity of the early church (Acts 1:14; 2:46; 4:24).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (with συναγωγή: 'all the congregation')→ participant prominenceπᾶς (fem. πᾶσα): 'all / whole'; πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή ('all the congregation') closes the subject-list with the totality of the assembly, now united under their Spirit-endowed shepherd.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with συναγωγή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγήcongregationNominativesubject (coordinate: 'all the congregation')→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: 'congregation'; the leitmotif noun closes the description of Joshua's mandate — the whole assembly will follow him in unity, the shepherdless flock now shepherded.
22
καὶ ἐποίησεν Μωυσῆς καθὰ ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ κύριος καὶ λαβὼν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἔστησεν αὐτὸν ἐναντίον Ελεαζαρ τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ἔναντι πάσης συναγωγῆς
And Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and taking Joshua he set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation,
The narrative shifts from command (vv. 18–21) to execution with the standard obedience-fulfillment formula καθὰ ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ κύριος ('just as the LORD commanded him'). Moses' aorist actions — λαβών ('taking'), ἔστησεν ('set') — exactly enact the imperatives λαβέ and στήσεις of vv. 18–19, demonstrating his complete, faithful obedience even in his final official act.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (Moses' compliance)→ constative aorist (the completed act of obedience)ποιέω (aor. ἐποίησεν): 'do / make'; the verb of the obedience-formula καὶ ἐποίησεν … καθὰ ἐνετείλατο ('and he did as [the LORD] commanded'), recurring throughout the Pentateuch to certify exact compliance with divine instruction.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: the obedient mediator who, in one of his last recorded acts, faithfully commissions his own successor.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction (obedience-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the conformity-clause certifying Moses' exact obedience.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of comparative clause ('as the LORD commanded')→ constative aorist (the completed divine command)ἐντέλλομαι (aor. mid. ἐνετείλατο): 'command / charge'; renders צִוָּה; the same verb used of Moses' charge to Joshua (ἐντελῇ, v. 19) now describes YHWH's command to Moses — the chain of commissioning runs from YHWH through Moses to Joshua.
αὐτῷhim / to himDativeindirect object of ἐνετείλατο ('commanded him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): Moses, the recipient of YHWH's command.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the ultimate author of the command Moses now fulfills.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαβὼνhaving takenAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λαμβάνωcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance, agreeing with Μωυσῆς)→ antecedent aorist participle (act prior to ἔστησεν)λαμβάνω (aor. part. λαβών): 'take'; the participle enacts the imperative λαβέ of v. 18 — Moses 'taking Joshua' fulfills the command to designate him; the verbal echo confirms precise obedience.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ἰησοῦν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativedirect object of λαβών ('taking Joshua')→ object specificationἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): Joshua, now formally taken and presented; the typological 'Jesus' who leads the people into the inheritance.
ἔστησενset / stoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (transitive: 'he set him')→ constative aorist (the completed act of presenting)ἵστημι (aor. act. ἔστησεν, transitive): 'cause to stand / set'; enacts the imperative στήσεις of v. 19 — Moses 'set him before Eleazar,' fulfilling the command to present Joshua publicly for commissioning.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἔστησεν (Joshua)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): Joshua, set before the priest and congregation.
ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before Eleazar')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; Joshua is set before Eleazar in fulfillment of v. 19.
ΕλεαζαρEleazargenitive object of ἐναντίον (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: transliteration of אֶלְעָזָר; indeclinable; the high priest before whom Joshua is presented.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ελεαζαρ→ relational specificationἱερεύς (gen. ἱερέως): 'priest'; Eleazar's office, before which the commissioning is enacted.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before all the congregation')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before'; the commissioning is performed publicly, before the whole assembly, as commanded in v. 19.
πάσηςallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγῆς)→ relational specificationπᾶς (fem. πάσης): 'all'; the whole congregation witnesses the installation of Joshua.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'congregation'; the assembled people, before whom Joshua is publicly commissioned.
23
καὶ ἐπέθηκεν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ συνέστησεν αὐτόν καθάπερ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ
and he laid his hands upon him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had directed through Moses.
The chapter ends with the rite enacted: Moses 'laid his hands upon him' (ἐπέθηκεν τὰς χεῖρας) — fulfilling ἐπιθήσεις of v. 18 — and 'commissioned him' (συνέστησεν). The closing formula καθάπερ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ ('just as the LORD directed Moses') matches the seal of the inheritance-statute (v. 11), binding both halves of the chapter under the same note of perfect obedience. The laying-on of hands here is the foundational text behind Deut 34:9 ('Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him'), Acts 6:6, and 1 Tim 4:14.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέθηκενlaid / put uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (execution of the laying-on of hands)→ constative aorist (the completed rite)ἐπιτίθημι (aor. ἐπέθηκεν): 'lay upon / place on'; enacts the command ἐπιθήσεις of v. 18; renders סָמַךְ; the laying-on of hands is the consummating rite of Joshua's commissioning — the visible transfer of authority and Spirit-attested office, the locus classicus for ordination by imposition of hands (Deut 34:9; Acts 6:6; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativedirect object of ἐπέθηκεν ('his hands')→ object specificationχείρ (pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ('his hands') in the execution matches the plural command of v. 18 (τὰς χεῖράς σου); the laying-on of both hands signifies the fullness of the transferred commission; the gesture became the enduring sign of ordination in Israel and the church.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his hands')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his hands').
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative (elided ἐπ᾿): 'upon'; the hands are laid 'upon him' (Joshua), repeating the ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν of vv. 18 and 20 — hands, glory, and commission all converge upon Joshua's person.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (Joshua)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): Joshua, on whom Moses lays his hands.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέστησενcommissioned / established / appointedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνίστημιmain verb (formal installation of Joshua)→ constative aorist (the completed commissioning)συνίστημι (aor. act. συνέστησεν, transitive): 'set together / establish / commission / present formally'; here 'he installed/commissioned him'; the prefix συν- and the ἵστημι-root resonate with the chapter's recurring 'standing' language (στᾶσαι, στήσεις, στήσεται, ἔστησεν); Moses formally constitutes Joshua in his office, completing the succession.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of συνέστησεν (Joshua)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): Joshua, now formally commissioned as Moses' successor.
καθάπερjust as / exactly ascomparative conjunction (closing conformity-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθάπερ: 'just as / exactly as'; an intensified form of καθά; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the closing certification that Moses' act matched YHWH's command precisely — the chapter ends on the keynote of perfect obedience.
συνέταξενdirected / commandedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντάσσωverb of comparative clause ('as the LORD directed')→ constative aorist (the completed divine directive)συντάσσω (aor. συνέταξεν): 'arrange / command / direct'; renders צִוָּה; the same verb that sealed the inheritance-statute (v. 11, καθὰ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ) now seals the commissioning of Joshua — the two halves of the chapter close with identical formulae, framing both legal precedent and succession under YHWH's command.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of συνέταξεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine author of all that the chapter records — both the inheritance-statute and the appointment of Joshua.
τῷthe / to / throughDativearticle (with Μωυσῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜωυσῇMosesDativeindirect object of συνέταξεν ('commanded to/through Moses')→ sphere or referenceΜωυσῆς (dat. Μωυσῇ): the mediator through whom YHWH's command was given and by whose obedient hand it was fulfilled; the chapter's final word names the lawgiver one last time — even as he commissions the successor who will finish what he could not.